Media Advisory: UB and National Grid offer hands-on STEM experiments to Westminster students

BUFFALO, N.Y. – What happens when you dip a rose in liquid
nitrogen? What causes your hair to stand up? How do you turn a rug
into an electronic keyboard?

Westminster Community Charter School students will learn the
answers to those questions the fun way – by doing hands-on
science experiments with scientists and engineers at the University
at Buffalo.

Sponsored by National Grid, the field trips are designed to
boost student interest in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) fields. Thursday and Friday are the last days of
a two-week effort by National Grid, Westminster and UB to bring
dozens of K-8 students to campus for fun STEM activities.

Media are invited to come to UB to watch the action.

When: Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24. Students will
arrive at UB at 9:45 a.m. and leave by 12:30 p.m.

Why: Studies have shown that the United States lags
behind other countries in STEM education. UB and partners like
National Grid are working to combat that pattern by hosting
engineering camps, volunteering in public schools and implementing
other initiatives.

National Grid’s sponsorship of this program is part of the
company’s larger Engineering our Future initiative, which
provides funding support to address STEM needs. Like many technical
businesses, National Grid faces a potential shortage of engineers
to help design and run tomorrow’s energy networks.

UB and National Grid are also working with Science is
Elementary, a California-based nonprofit that promotes STEM
education. Liesl Folks, dean of UB’s School of Engineering
and Applied Sciences, serves on the board of advisors for Science
is Elementary.